The Las Animas Republican was known for his one-liners. During the debate on a smoking ban, then-Sen. Mark Hillman said no one ever went into a bar for his health, prompting Kester to say, “It calms my nerves.”

During the search for a new pope in April 2005, Kester joked that it wasn’t fair that a Catholic always got to be pope. When the new pope was announced, Kester’s comment made the Rocky Mountain News’ popular Roll Call.

THAT EXPLAINS THE WHITE SMOKE
OVER THE STATE CAPITOL“We’re going to get a new pope and a new insurance commissioner?”
Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, reflecting on the big goings-on in state government and the world Tuesday.

Kester was referring to the appointment by then-Gov. Bill Owens of David Rivera as the state’s insurance commissioner.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.